Container with markers for band control



Sept. 12, 1967 I G. T. SNYDER 3,340,621

CONTAINER WITH MARKERS FOR BAND CONTROL Filed July 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l- EL L - INVENTOR. GERALD 7. SNYDER )Mm Jox ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 1967 G. T. SNYDER 3,340,621

CONTAINER WITH MARKERS FOR BAND CONTROL Filed July 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A5 A6 A1 A18 'gf" F762 /3 '/6 /2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

GERALD 7.' SNYDER ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 1967 G T. SNYDER CONTAINER WITH MARKERS FOR BAND CONTROL I Sheets-Sheet 5- Filed July 15, 1964 Om O INVENTOR. GERALD 7T SNYDER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,340,621 CONTAINER WITH MARKERS FOR BAND CONTROL Gerald T. Snyder, 679 S. Richardson Ave.,

Columbus, Ohio- 43204 v Filed July 15, 1964, Ser. No. 382,776 3 Claims. (CI. 35-29) The invention disclosed and claimed in this application relates to educational methods, and devices for using each methods. It is illustrated by a device which is to be used in the instruction of marching bands, and by representations of portions of the device set out on a field for use in a method of instructing the band members in various band formations.

The instruction of band members in the various formations to be used by the band in the presentation of various musical numbers by the band is difficult and tedious and is in addition to the instruction of the band members in the performance of the music. Thus each band member must be instructed individually as to each formation exactly where he must stand during the formation and he must learn not only where he has to stand, but also how he moves from his position in one formation to his position in another formation. Even when the instructor has a diagram of each formation and even when the members of the band have been given diagrams of each formation, it takes a great deal of additional time to instruct the various members of the band individually where they are to move with regard to each formation. I have discovered a method by which this educational process may be accomplished more expeditiously and by which much time may be saved in the instruction of band members in the performance of their duties when the band as a whole performs many intricate maneuvers.

One of the objects of my invention therefore is the provision of new methods of educating band members each individually in the performance of his duties in cooperation with other members of the band in performing the maneuvers to be performed by the band.

A further object of my invention is the provision of apparatus for aiding in the performance of the above referred to methods.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of apparatus useful in the education of band members in the performance of their duties in performing band maneuvers illustrated as an embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2. is a view in top plan of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical section of the same apparatus taken substantially longitudinally of FIG. 2 and as if on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section taken transversely and substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in plan of a field to which markers have been applied in accordance with a process of my invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the markers applied to the field for teaching a different formation; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6 showing the markers applied in order to indicate to the members of the band the positions of a difierent formation.

Detailed description In FIG. 1 there is shown an exploded view of an embodiment of my invention consisting of apparatus for performing a process according to my invention. Therein there 3,340i,6Zl Patented Sept. 12, 1967 is shown a container 11 consisting of a rectangular box having upstanding cars 12 and 13 each of which is formed with a circular opening such as 14 and 15 through which there may be inserted a rod-like handle 16. Within the box at the bottom thereof there are packed a plurality of flat plates such as the plates 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25, inclusive. Within the box 11 above the plates 17, 18, etc., there is inserted a pan 26 which also has packed within it, a plurality of blocks such as the blocks 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43 and 44, inclusive. The pan 26 is thus inserted above the plates 17, 18, etc. and rests upon the plates 17-25. Above the pan 26 and the plates packed therein and resting on the plates of pan 26 is another pan 45 in which there are also packed a plurality of plates such as the plates 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, and 62, inclusive. The shape of the plates is possibly best illustrated in the plate 54 which is exploded out of the pan in which it normally rests. It is shown as a square plate. It could be round, rectangular, hexagonal, etc. if desired. It will be noticed that in this arrangement there are two rows of plates extending longitudinally of the box and two rows extending longitudinally of each of the pans. Each of these rows is of a series of four plates placed end to end and is of several plates in thickness. In the embodiment illustrated each set has six plates in depth. Each of the plates in the bottom of the box 11 is of one color, each of the plates in the pan 26 is of a different color and each of the plates in the pan 45 is of still a different color. Each of the plates (as shown in FIG. 1) has an identifying marking in addition to the color. It can be computed from a comparison of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 that there are provided three sets of plates each set consisting of 48 plates.

In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, I have shown plates distributed on a marching field in three different formations. In FIGS. 5, -6 and 7, there are shown 3 different sets of plates (i.e., the plates of each figure is of a different color from the plates of the other figures). Moreover, there are shown only 16' plates in each formation. That is, in these figures, the plates are disposed as if the number of band members has been reduced to 16. This is done in order to simplify the showing. If there were 48 members of the band, all plates would, of course, be used. If, however, there were only 16 band members, marker plates might be distributed as indicated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, and thus only a portion of each of the sets of markers need be used.

Operation In the performance of my method of instruction, the instructor would take from the upper tray 45 of the blocks or plates numbered A-1 to A-4, B-1 to B4, F-1 to F-4, and L-l to L4, inclusive. He would (consulting his diagrams) have these disposed on the field as shown in FIG. 6. He would also take from the second tray 26, the blocks numbered A-1 to A-4, B-1 to B-4, F-1 to F-4 and L-1 to L4 and have these arranged on the filed as shown in FIG. 5. He would also take from the bottom of the box 11, the blocks numbered A-1 to A4, B-l to B-4, F-1 to F-4 and L-1 to L-4 and have these arranged on the field as shown in FIG. 7.'At a given signal each member would move to their code number (as for example A-1) to that block on the field having the color taken from tray 45. At another signal the member would move to the block of the same number having the color taken from the tray 26. At another signal the member would move to the block of the same number having the color of the box '11. Thus the members are able to learn very quickly the different formations, the exact distances, the best and most efficient way of moving from one formation to the other. Soon the blocks may be removed and the formations efficiently performed Without the blocks. The numbers of sets may be varied as desired. Thus there may be three (each of different color) as described above, or four, or five, or six or more as desired. Each set however, should be of a different color and there should be the same code numbers in each set.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiment of my invention represents a preferred embodiment but is for the purpose of illustration only and various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device for providing instructions for band members comprising a container;

a pan in said container;

a smaller pan in the first pan;

a set comprising a plurality of markers in the bottom of said container, all having the same color and each having a distinctive different marking indicating an individual band member;

a second set comprising an equal number of markers in the first pan, all having the same color which is, however, different from the color of the first set, and each having the same distinctive difierent markings indicating the same respective member of the band; and a third set comprising an equal number of markers in the second pan, all having the same color which is, however, different from the colors of the markers of the first and second sets and each having the same distinctive diiferent markings indicating the same rerespective member of the band. 2. The device of claim 1 in which each of the markers is a fiat plate.

3. The device of claim 1 in which each of the markers is a square flat plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,815,443 7/1931 Mitchell 3529 2,130,762 9/1938 Borden 273-148 2,458,984 1/ 1949 Engle 35-29 2,522,768 9/ 1950 Wiepert 220-17 X 2,643,466 6 1953 Bucher 35-7 3,191,937 6/1965 Kropinski 35-72 X FOREIGN PATENTS 849,103 11/1939 France.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

H. S. SKOGQUIST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR PROVIDING INSTRUCTIONS FOR BAND MEMBERS COMPRISING A CONTAINER; A PAN IN SAID CONTAINER; A SMALLER PAN IN THE FIRST PAN; A SET COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF MARKERS IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER, ALL HAVING THE SAME COLOR AND EACH HAVING A DISTINCTIVE DIFFERENT MARKING INDICATING AN INDIVIDUAL BAND MEMBER; A SECOND SET COMPRISING AN EQUAL NUMBER OF MARKERS IN THE FIRST PAN, ALL HAVING THE SAME COLOR WHICH IS, HOWEVER, DIFFERENT FROM THE COLOR OF THE FIRST SET, AND EACH HAVING THE SAME DISTINCTIVE DIFFERENT MARKINGS INDICATING THE SAME RESPECTIVE MEMBER OF THE BAND; AND A THIRD SET COMPRISING AN EQUAL NUMBER OF MARKERS IN THE SECOND PAN, ALL HAVING THE SAME COLOR WHICH IS, HOWEVER, DIFFERENT FROM THE COLORS OF THE MARKERS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND SETS AND EACH HAVING THE SAME DISTINCTIVE DIFFERENT MARKINGS INDICATING THE SAME RESPECTIVE MEMBER OF THE BAND. 